Trailer hoist



March 15, T. SCHQPF T TRAILER HOIST Filed Jan. 9, 1964 INVENTORS.

0 CINE 8 .Y HAT T C T SHO A N GM D REW l wa DE EL BY: 080M0 0, zugmugd United States Patent 3,240,526 TRAILER 1101531 Edward T. Schopf, Leslie (-3. Ehmann. and Melvin Mi. Northe, Portland, Greg, assignors to lEsco Corporation, Portland, Ureg, a corporation of Oregon Filed Jan. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 336,826 6 filaims. (Cl. 29474) This invention relates to a trailer hoist, and, more particularly, to a fitting adapted to be used with a loop of Wire rope, or the like, for connection to a logging trailer.

As indicated above, the invention finds utility in the hoisting of trailers such as those employed in logging. It becomes necessary during logging operations to return the trailer to the woods after dumping the logs. The driver usually does this by hoisting the trailer piggyback. In most States, this is required by law-as well as being more economical than to drive an empty logging truck pulling the trailer behind. For this purpose the trailer manufacturer installs lugs welded to the trailer frame for lifting it. Since a variety of lifting means, cranes equipped with hooks or grapples, fork lift trucks, etc., are used, a variety of stresses are applied to the hoist, particularly in the portion where the hoist loop is joined with the clevis-type fitting employed for connection with the lug.

In the past, these fittings have failed prematurely, particularly in the area wherein the hoist loop is connected thereto, with the attendant danger to life and property.

In particular, the prior art fittings provided a clevis having a socket at its upper end in which the ends of the wire rope were secured as by zincing. When such a fitting was subjected to the various stresses developed by different lifting means, there occurred internal working of the joint between the fitting and the loop, resulting in substantial shortening of the working life.

It is an object of this invention to avoid the above difficulties and further to provide a fitting wherein a unique connection is provided between the hoist loops and the clevis-providing fitting which is able to withstand a wide variety of stresses without lessening of working life.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel two-piece fitting, one piece being denominated a pocket part and the other a clevis part received in the pocket part, the two parts cooperating to define pockets in which the ends of the hoist loop are releasably confined.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a twopiece fitting of the character just described uniquely arranged surfaces which facilitate the reorientation of the two pieces so as to accommodate the stresses imposed by different lifting means.

Other objects and advantages of the invention may be seen in the details of construction and operation set down in this specification.

The invention is described in conjunction with an illustrative embodiment in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of the hoist of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the showing in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the sight line 33 applied to FIG. 1.

In the illustration given, the numeral designates generally the inventive fitting, which is seen to be coupled to a wire rope 11 defining a loop 12 for lifting a trailer 13 having a hole-equipped hoisting lug 13a. It will be appreciated that the inventive construction has a wide variety of uses, but at the present time a substantial use involves the lifting of trailers, and, for that purpose, the invention is described in such an environment.

The fitting 10 includes a pocket-providing piece gen- ShZlfifiZfi Patented Mar. 15, 1966 erally designated 14, and a clevis-providing piece generally designated 15. The clevis piece is seen to be removably received Within the pocket piece 14 and, for that purpose, the pocket piece 1 1 is equipped with a vertically-extending opening or passage 16. The pocket piece 14 is relatively elongated and can be considered generally rectangular, with the opening 16 being generally square in a plane normal to the movement of the clevis piece 15 during the insertion operation. The opening 16 is centrally longitudinally disposed relative to the pocket piece 14, and is in communication with a pair of pockets 17 and 18 provided at the two ends of the pocket piece 14. It is within the pockets 1'] and 18 that the ferrules is and of the wire rope 11 are releasably received. For the purpose of confining the ferrules 19 and 20 within the pockets 17 and 18, the clevis piece 15 is shaped to conform to the opening 16in the illustration given, being symmetrical, i.e., generally square. Each pocket 17 and 18 is equipped with a restricted access opening or relief as at 21 and 22 to permit the wire rope 11 to extend therethrough but being sized to restrict upward movement of the ferrules 19 and 20.

The clevis piece 15 is seen to be equipped with a pair of depending lugs 23 and 24, each equipped with a clevis pin hole as at 25 and 26 to provide a clevis portion dependent from the assembled pieces making up the fitting 10. The clevis pin 2'7 is seen to be equipped with an enlarged head 28 at one end thereof, and a cotterpin 29 at the other end. Further, the receipt of the clevis piece 15 within the opening 16 is restricted by abutment means provided by an integral flange portion 30 at the upper end of the clevis piece 15. Still further, the clevis piece 15 may be immobilized in place within the pocket piece 14 by means of a bolt 31 suitably equipped with a nut 32 and passing through aligned openings 33 and 34, al ternatively 33 and 35, in the two pieces.

In the operation of the invention, a wire rope 11 is equipped with ferrules 1 9 and Ztl at the ends thereof, either swaged or zineed-on ferrules can be used. In the prior art versions, it was necessary to use only the zinced connection between the wire rope and the clevis socket. The ferrules are inserted within the pockets 1'7 and 18 by a movement longitudinal of the pocket piece 14- after first being inserted within the opening 16. This results in the wire rope 11 extending through the relieved portions 17 and 18.

Thereafter, the clevis piece 15 is inserted into the opening 16, with the length of the pin 27 being oriented relative to the length of the pocket piece 14 for the desired lifting apparatus. When a lifting action is required where in the pin length is generally parallel to the plane of the loop 12, the clevis piece 15 can be oriented as shown in FIG. 1. On the other hand, when it is desired to have the length of the clevis pin 27 extend normally of the plane of the loop 12, it is a simple matter to reposition the clevis piece 15 by removal and rotation 90.

Here, it will be noted that the clevis pin 27 and the abutment flange 3t) serve to limit movement of the clevis piece 15 transversely of the pocket piece 14. Additional means for limiting this movement is provided in the form of the bolt 31 extending through the aligned openings 33 and 34 or 33 and 35, depending upon the orientation of the clevis pin 27 relative to the loop 11. The openings 34 and 35 are positioned so that the main bearing load is transverse to the pocket piece 14 by means of the integral flange 30 rather than by means of the bolt 31.

While in the foregoing specification a detailed description of an embodiment of the invention has been set down for the purpose of explanation thereof, many variations in the details herein given may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A trailer hoist, comprising a pocket piece and a clevis piece removably received in said pocket piece, said pocket piece being relatively elongated to define a central opening extending transversely therethrough for the receipt of said clevis piece, said opening being longitudinally enlarged to provide a pair of spaced-apart pockets adapted to receive the ferrule-equipped ends of hoist loop and confine the same against transverse movement when said clevis piece is received in said opening, and means operably associated with said clevis piece for limiting the transverse movement of said clevis piece when subjected to load said opening being generally symmetrical on a plane normal to the direction of said transverse move ment, said clevis piece conforming to said opening whereby said clevis piece is adapted to be arranged in the plu-, rality of orientations relative to said pocket piece, said opening being generally square in said plane, said clevis piece being equipped with a clevis pinhole at the end thereof received in said pocket piece whereby a clevis pili is adapted to be oriented parallel or normal to a hoist loop having its ends secured in said spaced-apart pockets.

2. A trailer hoist, comprising a pocket piece and a clevis piece removably and positionably received therein, said pocket piece being generally rectangular and having a generally square opening extending centrally transversely therethrough for the insertable receipt of said clevis piece, being equipped with ferrule-receiving pockets at the ends thereof communicating with said opening whereby the ferrule-equipped ends of a wire rope hoist loop are adapted to be received in said pockets and confined therein by the receipt of said clevis piece in said pocket piece with said loop being positioned in a generally vertical plane when lifting a trailer and with the ferrule-equipped ends disposed lowermost in said plane, said pockets each being defined in part by an upper wall partially relieved to provide wire rope passageways when said clevis piece is received in said opening, each passageway being of such limited area to restrict removal of said ferrules when said clevis piece is received in said pocket piece, said clevis piece generally conforming in shape to said opening and having a clevis portion at the lower end thereof whereby said clevis portion is adapted to be positioned in two positions relative to said pocket piece, and bearing means adjacent the upper end of said clevis portion for cooperative bearing with said pocket piece in restricting the receipt of said clevis piece in said pocket: piece.

3. The structure of claim 2 in which said clevis portion is equipped with a pair of aligned holes for the receipt of a clevis pin, and a clevis pin removably received in said holes and projecting at both pin ends beyond said clevis portion to restrict removal of said clevis piece from' said pocket piece.

4. The structure of claim 2 in which said bearing means includes an integral flange at the upper end of said clevis piece for hearing contact with the confronting upper surface of said pocket piece.

5. The structure of claim 2 in which said bearing means includes aligned apertures in said pieces and a bolt removably received in said apertures, said clevis piece being equipped with a pair of normal-related apertures to accommodate the two portions of said clevis piece.

6. A trailer hoist comprising a pocket place and a clevis piece removably received in said pocket piece, said pieces cooperating when interengaged to define .a pair of spaced-apart pockets for the removable receipt of the ferrule-equipped ends of a hoist loop with a load on said clevis maintaining said pieces in pocket-providing relation, said pocket piece having an opening along one side for the sequential insert of said ferrule-equipped ends and said clevis piece and an opening along the opposite pocket piece side through which said clevis piece projects, said clevis piece being equipped with a clevis portion at the projecting end thereof and an abutment portion at the other end thereof for limiting the receipt of said clevis piece in the first mentioned pocket piece side opening.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,551,803 5/1951 Leonard 29474 X GERALD M. PORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Examiner. 

1. A TRAILER HOIST, COMPRISING A POCKET PIECE AND A CLEVIS PIECE REMOVABLY RECEIVED IN SAID POCKET PIECE, SAID POCKET PIECE BEING RELATIVELY ELONGATED TO DEFINE A CENTRAL OPENING EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THERETHROUGH FOR THE RECEIPT OF SAID CLEVIS PIECE, SAID OPENING BEING LONGITUDINALLY ENLARGED TO PROVIDE A PAIR OF SPACED-APART POCKETS ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE FERRULE-EQUIPPED ENDS OF HOIST LOOP AND CONFINE THE SAME AGAINST TRANSVERSE MOVEMENT WHEN SAID CLEVIS PIECE IS RECEIVED IN SAID OPENING, AND MEANS OPERABLY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID CLEVIS PIECE FOR LIMITING THE TRANSVERSE MOVEMENT OF SAID CLEVIS PIECE WHEN SUBJECTED TO LOAD SAID OPENING BEING GENERALLY SYMMETRICAL ON A PLANE NORMAL TO THE DIRECTION OF SAID TRANSVERSE MOVEMENT, SAID CLEVIS PIECE CONFORMING TO SAID OPENING WHEREBY SAID CLEVIS PIECE IS ADAPTED TO BE ARRANGED IN THE PLURALITY OF ORIENTATIONS RELATIVE TO SAID POCKET PIECE, SAID OPENING BEING GENERALLY SQUARE IN SAID PLANE, SAID CLEVIS PIECE BEING EQUIPPED WITH A CLEVIS PINHOLE AT THE END THEREOF RECEIVED IN SAID POCKET PIECE WHEREBY A CLEVIS PIN IS ADAPTED TO BE ORIENTED PARALLEL OR NORMAL TO A HOIST LOOP HAVING ITS ENDS SECURED IN SAID SPACED-APART POCKETS. 